Tie-rod for wire springs



(No Model.)

W. A. GOMSTOOK. TIE ROD FOR WIRE SPRINGS.

No. 600,358. Patented Mar. 8,1898.

TTT

INVENTQF V164,, 4,

By ATTY UNi'rnn STATES WILLIAM A. CUMSTOCK,

on CLEVELAND, o1-11o.

TIE-ROD FO-R WIRE SPRINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application filed October 1 1897- To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. COMSTOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vire Springs; and I do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in wire springs for beds and other furniture; and the invention consists in the construction of the tier0d and in the combinations therewith, substantially as shown and described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a section of a bed-bottom in which my invention is disclosed; and Fig. 2 is an elevation of Fig. 1, looking in from either the right or the left. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a section of the tie-rod in the first stage or step of its development; and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the same section in the second stage or step of its development, as hereinafter described.

A represents the springs, which may be of any preferred style or kind, provided, of course, that they be adapted to be used and combined with my new and improved tie-rod B. The said tie-rod B is intended to connect the two series of springs A, arranged opposite one another and in contiguous position, so that when tied or united by my improved tierod an even and continuous spring-surface is aiforded.

The tie-rods B are designed to not only unite or tie together the springs A but to contribute to the supporting-surface of the bedbottom, as will appear in the further description. In the development of this rod the first stage or step involves the production of the opposite parallel tongues 2 and 4, from which the hooks, bearing the same reference-numbers, are ultimately formed The bending or forming of these tongues is done in such a way as to give to each and all the springs in both series as nearly as possible the same relative breadth of grip by the tie-rod. Of course it is not possible by my construction of tie-rod to obtain exactly the same breadth of grip or hearing for each and all the springs,

Patent No. 600,358, dated March 8, 1898.

Serial No. 654,767. (No model.)

but yet it is possible to give to each spring such width or breadth of hearing as to secure to the bottom that firmness of connection which is essential to its perfect construction and still leave the structure free for the desired hinge movement. Therefore to secure these objects I form at one side of the tie-rod a relatively wide tongue 2, thus obtaining in or by the two widely-separated sides of the tongue when bent to a hook, as in Fig. 1, a broad engaging surface for the spring, or what may be considered a double engagement thereof by the same member and at such distances apart as to make the engagement effective for my purpose. On the other side of the rod are two tongues 4, narrow in themselves, but spaced apart even beyond the width of the tongue 2 and forming two hooks 4, serving together the same object as single hook 2. Now, having this tie-rod thus initially developed, the next step in its manufacture is to turn the tongues 2 and 4 under and inward sufficiently to form hooks, as seen in Fig. 4. It is in this latter form that said hooks are ready to be engaged or united with the springs, and when united their hooks are closed down to make the connection complete and permanent, as seen in Fig. 1.

By the foregoing construction of tie-rod the double hooks on either side are so spaced where they clasp the springs that they hold the springs positively in position, keeping the bed in perfect shape, but yet permitting the springs to work on a quiet hinge motion, so as to give the bed that easy rolling motion which fits ones form or body. This is claimed to be a distinguishing characteristic or feature of my present improved bed-bottom and differs essentially from all other bottoms and connections in which the tie-rods are so connected with the springs as to make the top of the bed stiff and without any give to it. The form of this tie is such also as to make the top of a bed smooth and level, having no sharp bends to tear bedding. Then there is the further material advantage that by having this hinge motion for the springs on both sides of the tie-rods the said rods are proteeted'against crystallizing or breaking, as wire will do when bent continually. The wide double bearing of each hook 2 and4is equivalent to an unbroken spring construction in effect, but by reason of the hinge avoids the danger of breaking, as in a continuous spring. This form of tie-rod also permits of springs being separated more or less by increasing the length of hooks, making possible bedbottoms of difierent widths with springs of one and the same diameter base and tops and overcoming the objection of all such tie-rods as have the rod and opposite springs unavoidably brought togetherin a bunch, so to speak, and in order to make different widths of beds must have springs of various diameter tops and bottoms. I provide for this contingency in longer hooks and the same springs. These tie-rods can be used for lounges, chairs, and anything in the spriug-bottom line.

It will be understood that while the two tongues 4 are, in fact, two separate hooks they serve together to form two widely-separated bearings for a single spring, corresponding in this particular essentially to the hook 2 on the opposite side. This makes an engagement with a wide double bearing for each spring and distinguishes my invention from all constructions where a single hook or hearing is obtained, and which is not my invention and will not serve the purposes thereof.

It will be noticed that each of the hooks is a wholly independent member, as such, having two parallel stems in the same plane as the portion of the tie-rod connecting said hooks in groups, and all said stems in the same horizontal plane with each other, thereby furnishing a flat horizontal surface for the mattress to rest upon. Then, again, by this construction I have the advantage of open hooks on each side to make engagement with the springs A in like manner on both sides of the rod and easy disengagement when it is necessary,besides connecting with the springs at such spaces apart that a very wide hearing and firm connection with the springs is aiforded, as hereinbefore described.

What I claim is 1. The series of springs, in combination with a tie-rod connecting said springs having a pair or separate open hooks on one side and a single open hook on the opposite side and formed from the stock between said pair of hooks, substantially as described.

2. A tie-rod for spring-bottoms having at intervals a single hook at one side and two hooks on the opposite side, each of said several hooks having two stems in the same plane as the body of the rod and open undercurved hooks between said stems, substantially as described.

3. The tie-rod having a pair of double-stem hooks on one side, and a single double-stem hook on the opposite side formed from the stock between said pair of hooks, the said stems all in the same plane as the portion of the rod between said hooks, and the hooks in the same plane beneath said stems and all alike open to make engagement with the springs, substantially as described.

Witness my hand to the foregoing specification this 23d day of September, 1897.

WVILLIAM A. OOMSTOOK;

Witnesses:

H. T. FISHER, R. B. Mosnn. 

